Comic George Lopez sued by ex-manager for $600,000

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A former manager for George Lopez
has sued the comedian for $600,000 he claims the TV star owes
him for unpaid commissions and profit-sharing from his hit ABC
show.

The breach-of-contract suit, filed by Ron De Blasio in Los
Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday and obtained by
Reuters on Friday, names the 46-year-old performer and his
production company, Encanto Enterprises, as defendants.

It says De Blasio worked for Lopez as his manager for about
six years, until Lopez terminated their relationship in August
2006.

Their management deal provided De Blasio a percentage of
gross proceeds Lopez earned -- initially set at 15 percent, but
later lowered to 10 percent -- from any personal appearances or
other work negotiated by De Blasio, according to the suit.

It said Lopez and Encanto also had agreed to pay De Blasio
a share of profits they earned from the "George Lopez" show,
which ended its five-year run on ABC last year but still airs
in syndication.

The suit clams Lopez has "improperly refused to pay De
Blasio residuals from all his work" on the show.

It says he also owes De Blasio management commissions for
various live performances, CDs and DVD projects, Lopez's work
on the movies "Balls of Fury" and "The Adventures of Sharkboy
and Lavagirl," and a Showtime comedy special.

The total amount De Blasio claims he is still owed comes to
at least $600,000, according to the suit.